We are not such
bad fellows; neither do we waste as much time as you seem to think."
And drawing out my hand, with the little filigree ball in it, I
whirled the latter innocently round and round on my finger. As it
flashed under his eye, I cast him a penetrating look.
He tried to carry the moment off successfully; I will give him so
much credit. But it was asking too much of his curiosity, and
there was no mistaking the eager glitter which lighted his glance
as he saw within his reach this article which a moment before he
had probably regarded as lost forever.
"For instance," I went on, watching him furtively, though quite
sure from his very first look that he knew no more now of the secret
of this little ball than he knew when he jotted down the memorandum
I had just pocketed before his eyes, "a little thing - such a little
thing as this," I repeated, giving the bauble another twist - "may
lead to discoveries such as no common search would yield in years.
I do not say that it has; but such a thing is possible, you know:
who better?"
My nonchalance was too much for him. He surveyed me with covert
dislike, and dryly observed "Your opportunities have exceeded mine,
even with my own effects. That petty trinket which you have
presumed to flaunt in my face - and of whose value I am the worst
judge in the world since I have never had it in my hand - descended
to me with the rest of Mrs.
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